Queen's Diamond Jubilee BBC Concert: as it happened

Welcome to our live coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert, beacons
and Buckingham Palace picnic.

• Crowd cheers "Philip, Philip" to wish him well in hospital• Prince Charles pays tribute to the Queen in moving address• Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Grace Jones among highlights • Beacons lit across the country as thousands gather in Hyde Park •Send us your best pictures of the weekend to mypic@telegraph.co.uk

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23:02 That's all from me until....tomorrow morning! Meet me back here at 9.30am for our live coverage of the Thanksgiving Service, Carriage Procession and Balcony Moment. Good night everyone.

22:51 That was spectacular - but why did the BBC put their closing credits over the last of of the fireworks? Highlights for me were Cliff, Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, Madness, Stevie Wonder, Macca and the fireworks.

22:48 WOW. We can feel and hear the fireworks from The Daily Telegraph office in Victoria!

The most remarkable fireworks I have ever seen.

22:45 Fairytale moment as the Queen takes the Jubilee crystal (a whopping great diamond) and puts it in a tubey thing. Definitely inspired by the Crystal Maze, that bit. It lights the National Beacons and a shedload of stunning fireworks.

22:43 Everyone is singing the national anthem, expect the Queen that is. Flags are waving across the crowds, Camilla looks teary and I think this has all gone to my head a bit. I want to call my gran.

22:40 Prince Charles's tribute to the Queen as she stands right next to him on stage feels like the most special, human and memorable part of the Jubilee weekend so far. His speech is coming across very well - it's genuine and moving.

22:37 Oh that's sweet. Prince Charles calls Her Majesty "mummy" to an "aww" from the crowd. Or "mummeh", as it sounds. He paid tribute to the comedians and their "jolly good jokes" and thanks God for the weather.

"The only sad thing about this evening is that my father hasn't been able to join us. But if we shout as loud as we can he might be able to hear us in hospital and get better."

22:35 The Queen's on stage now in a glorious gold dress with an ornate front and pearls. Alexa Chung, eat your heart out. It's hard not to feel for her, worrying about Philip.

22:30 SPECTACULAR fireworks for Live and Let Die. Macca shows off the lining of his jacket. It's the Union Jack of course. I think/hope he's just warming up. Well, I did before he started playing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da". Where's the Frog Song?

"Her Majesty asked me to ask you all to leave in an orderly fashion or she will be forced to unleash the corgies," he jokes.

22:26 You can't hate on Paul McCartney. You just can't. Even if he did call his last album Kisses On The Bottom (TMI). He was in Wingsfor god's sake! All My Love and Let It Be so far.

And now Live and Let Die! Brilliant. All together now: 'you know you did, you know you did, you know you di-id."

22:21 Peter Kaye dressed as a beefeater makes way for the finale: Paul McCartney.

He's in a smart black suit with white detail and buttons against psychedelic visual for the Magical Mystery Tour.

I remember going to early Madness gigs and they'd be broken up by skinheads fighting, and from that to the roof of Buckingham Palace #weird

22:12 Madness (all eight of them) are singing Our House on the top of Buckingham Palace. They finish with the line "in the middle of one's street." Har har. And now it's It Must Be Love. Fingers crossed for Baggy Trousers.

22:09 Finally a smile from the Queen for Superstitious!

22:07 Forgive me for typing will.i.Am's name wrong every time but I JUST DON'T CARE.

22:05 "Put your hands up y'all," shouts Will.I.AM before making a sound like a crucified beaver. Someone do the right thing and get him off the stage! Why is he even here?

22:04 It was all going so well and then Stevie had to bring will.i.am on. Isn't She Lovely and Happy Birthday now. This could be the highlight of the night if Will.I.AM keeps his mouth shut.

21:59 So they're saving the best till (almost) last. Here's Stevie Wonder. I hope it's nothing like the disappointing Glastonbury set I saw a couple of years ago. Lots of preaching and slowed down, gospelly hits. But Sir Duke sounds great so far. I hope he does Golden Lady.

21:57 Princess Anne is singing along to Rolf's Two Little Boys. This is the doldrums.

21:55 Dee Murrentweets a great fashion fact about the cape the Queen's wearing tonight. Apparently she wore it in the 60s.

I@fashedatlarge her Maj rocking the same cape for Cecil Beaton portrait - think its 60's. X

21:53 This footage of the Queen is lovely. Probably the best part of the concert so far. I love that clip of Her Majesty inspecting a military parade. She arrives at Prince William's spot and he can't help but break a huge grin.

21:49 Rolf Harris says we've had "punk and rap" tonight. Say what? He mentions bringing out his didgeridoo and the Queen purses her lips. "I don't know who this guy is but he looks like Colonel Sanders," tweetsmy buddy Katefrom North Carolina.

21:46 Mike Tindallhas tweeted a picture of Buckingham Palace from the royal box. It's "looking good" he says:

21:30 More popera from Archie and Renee Flaming singing Somewhere from West Side Story on the balcony. Blooming pink flowers have been projected on to Buckingham Palace. It's pretty. Twitter goes very quiet when these singers come on. Feels a bit like a loo break but you can't argue with Bernstein.

21:20 Kylie is dressed as a pearly queen and singing Spinning Around and Can't Get You Out Of My Head. I was hoping for Come Into My World but you can't have everything. At this point, I can't help but wonder who this concert is actually for. Surely the Queen isn't into noughties chart pop?

She's singing old classic Step Back In Time now. I love Kylie but this is not the best. Maybe Robbie will come on and they'll do Kids.

21:14 Rob Brydon's making everyone do a Mexican wave. The Queen's wishing she wasn't missing Springwatch.

21:08 Now it's Sing, the official song written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It's a shame a lot of this bunch can't. Not their finest moment, that's all I'm saying, but the children from Nairobi are great. Bryony Gordon's enjoying it:

20:50 Tom Jones sings Mama Told Me Not To Come in an Asian-style suit against a burnished sunset. I saw him once at a school speech day. Girls were queuing up for his autograph. It was a hot day and he signed their tummies and chests. I was too shy to go up to him, and, anyway, I was more into Crazy Town at the time.

20:47 The BBC are hopeless at giving us shots of the royal box and celebrity reaction. Brian May and John Major spotted so far. Wills, Kate and Harry look a little bored.

20:41 Rolf Harris tells us that painting the Queen's portrait has been the highlight of his career. Oh get on with it Rolf - do a crowd surf.

20:40 What are your highlights so far? Let me know in the comment box below.

She looks wonderfully bonkers swinging her hula hoop around her waist, wearing a red latex body suit and a bizarre red head dress. The coolest 64-year-old in the world.

20:23 Jools Holland and Ruby Turner are doing You Are So Beautiful. I'm waiting for the dub step breakdown and Skrillex to emerge from the weird sea urchin stage.

20.13 Is that Peter Capaldi on the French Horn? Never mind. Here's a singer called Alfie Boe. He's an English tenor who was born in Blackpool who was discovered while polishing cars in a mechanics. He sang the Cornetto theme tune. It was better than Cheryl Cole but that's not saying much.

20:09 Lang Lang's on to the chorus of a million people saying "at last some proper music". I really hope he does a stage dive after this. Slightly random cut into the cheesy bit of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Couldn't he have done the whole thing? Quite a few mistakes in this. Our very own Stephen Hough is way better (though I am biased).

20:05 Now Cliff is leading the crowd in Auld Lang Syne. And Congratulations. Did he just smack his own bum? That was a bit weird but I'll go with it.

20:00 Wow. Cliff Richard looks amazing. Pink salmon suit with a glittery pink tie and he's doing a brilliant job. That'll shut the haters up. I won't hear a word against this man; he's 71 year old! He's done Wired For Sound/Devil Woman/Dynamite and We Don't Talk Anymore so far without autotune. What a legend.

19:57 BREAKING>>> I've just been told Morrissey is the special guest for tonight's concert!

Just kidding.

19:53Gary Barlow on stage now with 'Cheryl'. Cheryl? Like Madonna? Or Sade? Or... Cher? I'm not sure Cheryl Cole's good enough to be known by her first name but I'll reserve judgement till the end of the performance.

19:53 Miranda Hart is doing well presenting. She introduced herself to Will.I.Am as Miranda.I.Is and thought Kanye West was a tube stop. ROFL.

19:50 The lyrics to this JLS song go "She Makes Me Wanna Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh". The Queen makes me want to give my granny a call and go round for a cup of tea but each to their own.

19:48 As JLS take to the stage, Stephen Pollard tweets what everyones thinking:

Please tell me the Queen doesn't actually like this noise?

We don't know because there's no sign of her so far. Waiting for the big guns perhaps?

19:44 BTW how did Coldplay get out of this one?

19:38 Oh good, we're getting Will.I.Am's 'song' I Gotta Feeling out of the way early on. I'm glad he's started using autotune - sounds like he needs it. He's not very good. This would've been a perfect time for the police to come on and arrest him for crimes against music.

Jessie J on the other hand has a powerful voice and a sparkly triangle-patterned dress. "We know how to party in the UK," she shouts. Perhaps she's been listening to the album by Alt-J (∆).

19:33 WTH! Why is the BBC cutting from the concert to Lizo? Oh hang on. I need to change the channel from BBC News to BBC One. Phew. I though it might be a repeat of yesterday's BBC disastrous coverage.

19:30 The first surprise is some beautiful golden fireworks and the Coldstream Guards. Robbie Williams kicks off the concert with Let Me Entertain You. He's wearing a rather smart military jacket, saluting and everyone's waving their flags manically.

"That was quite amazing," writes the Telegraph's Serena Davies. "Robbie even got the whole of my seated row standing. Quite a feat for song one."

Sir Paul McCartney, who will close the show with three songs, has wished the Duke well.

He told the BBC: "I think, you know, we all send our best wishes for a speedy recovery. I hear he's not too bad."

19:25 Just five minutes till lift off.Ed Sheeranwins tweet of the day so far:

Quote of the day from Grace Jones... " hello ed, you look like my granddaughter"

18:50 Here's more details from Neil McCormick as crowds gather to watch the concerts on the big screens:

There's a woman walking through the seats with a massive African headpiece on. She looks fantastic, dressed up to the nines for her night out at the palace. But I can see everyone in the row behind her going "please don't sit in front of me.."

Pedestrian Irish oldies boy band Overtones came on and did a couple of warm up songs to general disinterest. How did they get that gig? They're not even subjects, are they?

Andrew Lloyd Webber & Gareth Malone are teaching crowd Gary Barlow's Jubilee anthem Sing. It would have helped if they had written a chorus. "Yeah," says Malone, to the lacklustre response. "We're not going to be the envy of the world like that."

18:45 Not long to go. Donna Bowater reports high spirits on the Mall:

There's a really lovely atmosphere on The Mall with enough sunshine to make it feel like a spring evening, which is a massive improvement on yesterday. Families have finished their picnics, children are having their faces painted and I've gone cross-eyed from the sheer number of Union Jacks in the air. The queue for the loos is a respectable four-deep, which is substantially less than the queue to take a photograph of the red-coated guards outside Clarence House and St James's Palace every time they change.

18:35 Are you excited about tonight's line-up? Who do you think will steal the show? My money's on Grace Jones, Madness and Paul McCartney. Let me know what you think in the comment box below.

Grace Jones will perform at the Diamond Jubilee

Thomas Harding has been listening to the stars pay tribute to the Queen before the performance

The band JLS sang the Queen’s praises before going on stage.

“She is like an incredible monarch. People of our age can look up to the Queen and see a figure of passion.”

Sir Elton John, said: “She has been the Queen for almost as long as I have been alive. She has done an amazing job under difficult circumstances sometimes.”

Stevie Wonder was "very excited" about meeting the Queen for the first time, one commentator said.

Madness at the Diamond Jubilee

18:29 Thomas Harding has more news about Prince Philip:

Dickie Arbiter, a former press spokesman for Buckingham Palace, said the Duke would be “bitterly disappointed” not to be at the concert or tomorrow’s thanksgiving service.

“Getting a bladder infection aged 91 has to be taken fairly seriously given his age,” he told Sky News.

“He doesn’t like hospitals and would have gone there reluctantly given the concert tonight and the thanksgiving service tomorrow. He will be bitterly disappointed.

“The Queen will cope without him. The show must go on as far as she is concerned.”

He added: “The Duke hates this sort of molly-coddling and being pampered. But things go wrong at a certain age and they have to be dealt with.”

18:25 Ooh.. some backstage gossip from Neil McCormick, the Telegraph's chief pop and rock music critic:

18:11 People wearing masks of the Queen wait in St James's Park for The Diamond Jubilee concert. Slightly ruined by the Mickey Mouse stars-and-striped tablecloth.

18:07 The Telegraph's Serena Davies is at the Diamond Jubilee concert and texts me to say the sun has come out! She's excited.

17:53 BREAKING>>> I've got a copy of the programme for tonight's Diamond Jubilee concert. It's printed on nice, matte, expensive-feeling paper and starts with a welcoming letter from the Queen. Best parts? Her Majesty's signature - 'Elizabeth R' - looks like 'ElyabethR'. The goody bag is by McVities (you can't go wrong with biscuits). The "event producer" is one Robbie Williams. Here's hoping he entertains us.

Fraudulent forgers, looks away now:

17:48 Excitement is heating up in Hyde Park as the 7.30 gets closer. Donna Bowater's been talking to the crowds about who they're keen to see:

The long queue of thousands snaking down Constitution Hill is now moving as guests start heading in for the Jubilee concert. There's a lovely array of red, white, blue and a combination, which should look good on TV later. Most popular among the younger audience are Jessie J and JLS while parents are looking forward to seeing Sir Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams

17:44 Andrew Lloyd Webber says the Queen is 'delighted' with the official Jubilee song he wrote with Gary Barlow. 'Sing' features her grandson Prince Harry on the tambourine so she has to say that. Just kidding: the mission behind the song to bring home the sounds of the Commonwealth is a brilliant one.Here's Clive Morgan's interview with Barlow.

The message to Barlow was that if he wanted to please the Queen, he should go out and steep himself in the music of the Commonwealth. Among the places he visited were Australia, Kenya, Jamaica and the Solomon Islands, where he met singers and musicians as diverse as the African Children’s Choir, including soloist Lydia who opens and closes the song; Aboriginal guitarist Gurrumul, the Slum Drummers from Kenya’s Kibera slum, who made their instruments out of rubbish; the Jolly Boys from Jamaica and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band.

17:37 The BBC Entertainment team have just tweeted this picture of good old Tom Jones. That's Gary Barlow on the left: "No, you can't sing Sex Bomb".

The Duke's sudden illness, which follows a spell in hospital over Christmas after he suffered heart problems, will lead to inevitable speculation that his health has suffered as a result of the four hours he spent in the open in bitterly cold and wet conditions during yesterday's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: "His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh was taken to King Edward VII Hospital in London this afternoon from Windsor Castle as a precautionary measure after developing a bladder infection, which is being assessed and treated.

"Prince Philip will remain in hospital under observation for a few days. He is understandably disappointed about missing this evening's Diamond Jubilee concert and tomorrow's engagements."

17:24 Thomas Harding has been speaking to visitors in the crowds at Buckingham Palace about the Duke of Edinburgh:

A woman waiting outside Buckingham Palace said she it was "a terrible disappointment" that the Duke would not be at the concert.

"I think for the Queen not to have him at her side is a terribly sad thing. The show will go on but it will be very sad for him to be with her tonight."

An Australian man said news of the Duke's illness had put a "dampener" on the concert.

"We are all in a little bit of shock but we will just try to continue to party on," he added. "Everyone round here sends him their best wishes."

The Duke of Edinburgh waves on the royal barge 'Spirit of Chartwell' during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

We know that Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was partial to the Scaffold's hit Thank U Very Much, yodeller Montana Smith and had a fondness for ska music. Perhaps the presence of Madness in the programme is a nod to her late mother.

Some might question whether the Queen is really into pop music of the sort featured in tonight's concert. Gary Barlow has just silenced the cynics. Here's Hannah Furness:

Gary Barlow said the Queen had "absolutely" had input into the artists performing at the Jubilee concert tonight.

He added: "The whole Royal family household have had requests and people they want to see. What we've tried to do it is pick artists that span right across her reign - someone from every decade.

"We're hoping for a really momentous occasion."

Gary Barlow, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gareth Malone have collaborated for the Official Jubilee song ‘Sing'

17:06 Donna Bowater is struck by the effort made of some of the supporters on the Mall today. Look closely at the ladies in this picture for a prizeworthy sartorial effort.

The resolve of the British public to endure extreme conditions for a bit of pomp and pageantry never ceases to amaze me. Ladies in their 70s have thought nothing of camping on the Queen's doorstep on The Mall for two nights, with another to come, to watch the Jubilee concert on the big screens. They are like a more hardy, Royalist version of a Glastonbury crowd. Joan Stringfellow, 74, spent the night in a tent surrounded by her daughter and granddaughters, all of whom needed new wellies come this morning. "I remember the Queen's wedding - my mum bought a TV. We need the monarchy and we're proving to everyone that it's still here," she said.

The Royal Family might be the big draw tonight but the UK's trademark patriots were getting plenty of attention of their own. Nicola Curry, 43, and Jane Pratt, 47, who met for the first time in neighbouring tents, said passers-by had kept up their spirits, asking questions and taking their photographs. "We're the envy of a lot of countries when it comes to this," said Mrs Curry, a mother-of-five, who has been sleeping on The Mall since Saturday night.

If you look closely at these ladies from Essex, you might see some red, white and blue - they opted for flag-themed manicures.

16:57 More from Gordon Rayner on Prince Philip:

Duke will remain in hospital for several days. Buckingham Palace say he is "disappointed" to be missing tomorrow's #jubilee events

16:54 The Duke of Edinburgh has been taken to King Edward VII with a bladder infection. He will miss the rest of the Jubilee celebrations, according to Gordon Rayner, the Telegraph's Chief Reporter. Story to follow.

16:48 Gossip about this evening's concert is coming thick and fast from the Telegraph's Thomas Harding. Apparently there is a special guest yet to be announced. I'm hoping for Iron Maiden.

Gary Barlow tantalised people by disclosing that he would be playing a duet with another singer who he refused to name.

He told Sky News that the Royal household had given their input on which musicians they wanted to play in the concert.

“I think it’s going to be an incredible night.

“The whole Royal household have made request on people they wanted to see.

“Everyone has put so much work into this weekend and we pray everything goes well.”

Heston Blumenthal, the chef, said he had put together a special coronation chicken dish with an “acidic twist” but he had “not gone too far” on making it a quirky dish.

But he added: “The Royal family tasted everything and signed it off.”

16:42 I've just tried some of the Heston's Coronation Chicken. Without wishing to blow my own trumpet, I made a better one last weekend. Though I suppose he was catering for thousands. More pictures and gastronomic detail to follow.

Heston Blumenthal, the chef, said he had put together the special coronation chicken dish with an “acidic twist” but he had “not gone too far” on making it a quirky dish. He added: “The Royal family tasted everything and signed it off,” writes Thomas Harding.

Here's Bryony Gordon in the special Jubilee mac. She tells me the only celebrities spotted were Gloria Hunniford and Ollie from Made In Chelsea (the long-haired one). She didn't confirm whether they were together.

16:40 The London Ambulance Service warn people to prepare for the cold and wet at the concert and parade, after hundreds fall ill at the pageant.

16:38 Why do you think the Queen was voted themost popular monarch of all time? Simon Astaire, PR expert and media advisor, just told CNN the Queen’s popularity was now at an all-time high, thanks in part to William and Harry.

The Telegraph's Hannah Furness reports:

He said: “Camilla has become far more popular than anyone ever expected her to. She’s clearly a very nice person people take to when they meet her.

“And then you have Diana’s children, William and Harry, who are possible the biggest stars in the world.

“They face enormous pressure. Where they have got it right is that they have created this normality and paradoxically reinforced their royalty. By being part of the people they have reinforced their Royal status.

“Of course William met Kate, who has naturally represented the people at the same time been rather untouchable. It’s an extraordinary process that is very difficult to carry off and she has certainly done that.”

16:30 BREAKING>>> Bryony Gordon has arrived back in the Daily Telegraph office with Heston's picnic. Here's a picture to whet your appetite.

16:22 Have you seen Banksy's tribute to the Queen? It appeared yesterday on Upper Maudlin Street, near the Bristol Children's Hospital in the artist's home city.

Personally I don't think it's real. Vote in the poll below.

16:21 Sir Cliff Richard told Sky news that he would sing one of his hits from each of the last six decades in respect to the Queen’s diamond jubilee in a six minute slot, writes Thomas Harding.

He added: “I cannot believe that the Queen said ‘I hope that Cliff is there’. It’s nice to think I’m still considered part of the fabric of our society.

“We are very good at doing pageantry in this country. I feel that the monarchy has taken quite a lot of hit in its time but we have turned a corner now. Suddenly people realise life goes on and the monarchy goes on.

“We (all pop stars) are here for the same thing. We are just going to be ourselves and remember how wonderful this day is for the monarchy.”

Gary Barlow, the concert organiser, told BBC News: “What we have to do this is represent all the years of her reign going across 60 years.”

16:20 Donna Bowater is out on the Mall talking to the crowds. She's written in with a touching love story:

For all the sentimentality brought out by the Diamond Jubilee, I have yet to come across a more romantic story linking the Royal Family to the lives of the everyday public than the story of Elizabeth Bird and her late husband Rex.

In 1953, Mrs Bird was a young teenage woman on The Mall to celebrate the Queen's Coronation when she met a young man who was a brewer but was thinking of going into the ministry. The pair talked, and he took her hand, telling her he would look after her through the crowds.

They parted afterwards but some years later, he wrote to Elizabeth asking if she would like to meet up. They met a number of times before marrying in 1958 and Mr Bird became the Reverend Rex Bird of Lavernham, Suffolk.

Rex and Elizabeth would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary two weeks after Mr Bird's death, aged 78, in 2008. They managed to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary days before, receiving letters of congratulations from the Queen and the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Returning to the place where they met today to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Mrs Bird, now 77, said: "Sixty years ago, I met my husband on The Mall. I had to be here; I've got lovely memories. It was very romantic."

Crowds gather on the Mall

16:19 The line-up for tonight's concert is quite something. Apparently the Queen asked for Kylie's Timebomb especially. I'm most looking forward to Madness singing Our House from the top of....The Queen's House! And Elton John's rendition of I'm Still Standing which either seems appropriate or completely inappropriate.

16:19 Over 4,000 beacons are being lit around the world today to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and New Zealanders have been some of the first to set theirs on fire.

16:18 The Telegraph's Bryony Gordon has an exclusive ticket to the Buckingham Palace picnic.

Here at Buckingham Palace the 10,000 lucky ticket winners for the concert are settling down on the lawn with their Heston Blumenthal picnics and a steel band from St Lucia are playing Coldplay hits. There's also an Australian string quartet who have a didgeridoo player in their midst. So far the weather's holding up and people are tucking into their Heston picnics.

Stay tuned for details about the Heston picnic. I'm holding out for corgi pate, manna and crushed diamond sherbert.

Bryony's picnic hamper

16:15 Hello and welcome to the Telegraph's live coverage of day three of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations! Today we continue to celebrate 60 years of Her Majesty's reign with a picnic provided by Heston Blumenthalm, the lighting of beacons across the country and a concert at Buckingham Palace featuring Madness, Grace Jones and Sir Cliff. Put your seatbelts on: this is going to be fun. Please send your comments and pictures to lucy.jones@telegraph.co.uk or below in the comment box.

Please also send us your best pictures of the weekend to mypic@telegraph.co.uk